It’s simple ….
Our GREATEST GOAL in life needs to be PLEASING HIM!
The apostle Paul says what his greatest goal in life is in 2nd Corinthians 5, verse 9, he says ~
Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (2 Co 5:9). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation
The Greek word here that Paul uses means to earnestly aspire to something, implying strong ambition for some goal.
What was Paul’s goal that he was earnestly aspiring to? Pleasing Christ!
In all of Paul’s thoughts, actions and attitudes … he aspired to please Christ. Why? Because, as verse 10 tells us, all whose name is in the book of Life will appear before the Bema judgement seat.
The Bema judgement is the judgement that looks at what we have done that has been of eternal significance. It’s not about our sins but it’s about how well did we do in loving Him with heart, soul, mind and strength … and in loving our neighbor.
Soccer Goal
All my kids played soccer but my youngest daughter … I think … loved it most. She loved the forward position but only was able to play there one year in high school. As big as the net is in soccer you would think it should be pretty easy to score a goal, right?
It’s not!
It’s much more complicated than it looks. You have to keep your eyes on the opponent … who’s trying really hard to stop you from making it to the goal. You need to keep your eyes on your teammates who are supposing to be positioning themselves and the ball so you can kick it right in the net. But most importantly … you need to know where the goal is at all times. If you don’t you will never know how to reach it.
As we look to do things that will have eternal significance … we need to keep our eyes on our opponent ~ Satan is looking really hard for whom he can make stumble. We need to keep our eyes on our teammates .. our brothers & sisters in Christ who need us just as much as we need them. But most importantly … we need to keep our eyes on the GOAL.
That goal is seeing Jesus face to face someday and hearing those words from Him … “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Oh how I will be glad to hear just “Well done!” …. I know how much of the time I am unfaithful and not very good. But this should never stop me from keeping the eyes of my heart firmly focused on the goal …. regardless of what I think I might hear.
Just to see Him face to face will be …. well, eternally significant!
So … today …
- Let’s choose to follow Him and His commands … even if we don’t feel like it
- Let’s decided … each and every minute of the day … to please Him
- And … let’s passionately pursue Him who first loved us … and gave Himself up for us!
Blessings Friends,
